So many of them have touched my heart in a special way and have taught me more than academics. These are the lessons I will hold on to all of my life.
So without further ado, I thank you...
My Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Bailey...
Who worked with me through my bursts of crying because I was shy and didn't want everyone staring at me for show and tell.
Who let us write our spelling words in shaving cream and I thought it was so fun. I still do that with the kids I work with today.
My 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Adams...
Who we thought was so strict at first but was really one of the best teachers ever.
Who paid for us to get ice cream when we all had a great report from the PE teacher and made us walk with it behind our backs, so we didn't flaunt it to the other classes we walked past.
Who let us work in the garden.
Who struggled and worked to have all of us again in 4th grade and you accomplished that.
I had to move due to a tragic event and I just cried.
Because I wanted you to be my teacher and I didn't want all the change.
Who treated me like I had never left when I came back to visit.
I will never forget that.
It did my torn 4th grade heart so much good.
My 4th grade teacher, Ms. Berna...
Who was a brand new teacher and endured me correcting her spelling in front of the class and pointing out when people had skipped paragraphs in reading aloud.
Who didn't fuss too much when I cried out of the blue.
Because my life that year was really tough and you had no idea what I faced at home.
But you made me smile in class.
And I needed that.
Who told me I was gifted and my heart soared.
My sweet and extra-special 5th grade teacher, Ms. Schlichter (at the time) back in Florida....
Who ministered to my heart in a way I could never fully express.
Who let me sit in the reading corner and cry it out before starting work, because I tried so hard to be strong for my mom and tried never to cry at home.
But when I came to school, it all came out.
And you didn't know all of it, but you just let me cry.
I will never forget that as long as I live.
Because 5th grade was one of the roughest years of my life.
Some mornings we came from a different house, because our house wasn't safe to stay at the night before.
And I was ashamed.
And I didn't know what to tell my friends who asked me where I was at the bus stop.
Who picked me up after school from latchkey sometimes or let me sit in your room and drove me home, because well 5th grade was tough.
Who bought me a soda one afternoon and Mrs. Haupt walked in and said something so funny to you that I laughed so hard soda came out my nose.
I tried so hard to hide it, but then I just smiled.
Because I couldn't remember the last time I truly laughed.
Who believed in me and told me I could do anything.
Who spoke life into my heart that felt so dead and bleeding at times.
Who made science so much fun until most of my middle school teachers ruined it for me.
Whose words I just found in my yearbook out of the blue
And I fight back the tears.
Because I needed to hear those words today too.
Who once told me I would change my mind when I told her she would always be my favorite teacher.
I never changed my mind.
My 8th grade science teacher, Mrs. Aydelott, who is no longer here.
Who I miss more than words can tell.
Who I wish I could have said good-bye to.
When I grabbed a plastic folder for student teaching in 2014, I realized that very faintly was written my name and Mrs. Aydelott's name and I cried.
Because I realized it was my folder from 8th grade.
I almost got another folder, but then said no. I carried it with me for my inspiration.
She is my inspiration.
The teacher who drove me to Gulf Breeze Elementary School latchkey to meet my mom and pick up her son after school every day I was with my mom, before I was ever even in her class.
Who told me that quoting Genesis 1:1 was not the correct answer for how the world was created, since it asked according to the evolution theory.
But tried hard not to crack a smile, because I know you believed that too.
Who allowed me to make-up a test when I admitted to her that I cheated and I felt awful about it.
And I came confessing to you, expecting to get a zero.
My creative writing teacher, Mrs. Bentley in High School who encouraged me to write even the hard things.
And told me I had a voice.
And who influenced my writing.
My 9th grade Math teacher Coach Knapp,
Who was the only coach who ever taught math that I could understand.
Or didn't laugh at us when we failed.
Who took the time to sit right beside me to explain concepts in Algebra I just didn't get.
Who allowed us to play games on Fridays after tests.
My 11th grade AP English teacher, and 12th grade Speech teacher Mrs. Donalson...
Who told me I had too many details in my writing.
Who gave me constructive criticism I needed.
Who was so surprised when I took Speech, but then was blown away by my abilities.
My 9th grade History honors and 12th grade AP US Government/Economics teacher Mrs. Ryder/Reimer...
Who brought in a burka and allowed us to try it on. And I thought it was so neat.
Who didn't tell my secret of leaving the cafeteria early so I could get to her class first and avoid the crowds.
Who told us "Welcome to AP! There is no extra credit."
Then proceeded to tell us that there would be no extra credit in college.
First college class I had, the professor mentioned extra credit and I was like what is this foreign concept?
And thought you would be so disappointed. Ha!
Who taught me more about my country than I ever knew and things I still remember today.
My 10th grade History Honors and 12th grade AP U.S. History teacher Mrs. Reilly....
Who always gave us hands-on history experiences.
Who gave us fun projects.
Who brought history alive for me and I just loved it.
Who gave us the song "We didn't Start the Fire" to either sing or memorize for extra credit and were blown away when I recited all of it by memory to you, because I was afraid of singing in front of people.
My 11th grade Advanced Vocabulary teacher, Coach Price.
Who taught me more about words, which I loved.
Who introduced me to some really neat books.
Who could always make me laugh.
These are not all of my teachers, but these are the ones that stick out the most in my mind that have made a positive influence on my life. Thank you seems so inadequate to say, but I don't know any other words.
So thank you for teaching me lessons that go beyond the textbook. For loving me even in the tough times. For helping me through some hard moments in my life. For helping me along my own teaching journey.
You may never know just how much you meant to me. On the tough days, I hope you remember that even making a difference in the life of one child is worth it. And I know you all have made a difference in the lives of so many children. So go out there and do your thing. This world only has one you and you rock at being you!
"To the world you may just be a teacher, but to your students you are a hero!"
Thanks for being my heroes.
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